I wrapped up teaching my second online Skillshare class, How to Write Blog Posts That Build a Community, last week. It was a great class with over 100 students enrolled and several countries represented. During my first live streamed Office Hours, there were participants in the Dominican Republic, AZ, Singapore, Panama, NY, CA, Canada and FL.
Heck, some blog posts weren’t even in English! (Luckily, students were kind enough to translate those to English for us.)
Students, who included both new and seasoned bloggers, shared what makes a blog post engaging to them and then wrote and amplified on social media their own engaging blog post.
I was impressed by everyone’s posts and found a few blogs that I’d like to follow in the future. It was fun to interact with everyone and see students interact with each other. My hope was that the class itself felt a bit like a community by the end.
As I did with the last class, and in the spirit of community, I wanted to give my students the opportunity to share their blog posts with my readers here on my blog. I’ve asked them to link a post of their choice below. I hope you’ll take the time to visit a few of their blogs. You might even see a student or two appear on this blog in the future.
While we’re talking education, I wanted to get your feedback on what you’d like to see from me next. I’ve done lots of presentations and workshops on social media and blogging and have a few ideas of new and different educational opportunities to offer people locally in Maine and online, including:
- The Consistent Blogger: Getting into the Mindset of Writing (a possible e-course)
- Writing Your Own Giving Strategy (a possible online course)
- The Nuts and Bolts of Maintaining a WordPress Blog (a possible local workshop)
Do any of these appeal to you? What else would you want me to offer?
One other question. How do you prefer to learn about this kind of stuff?
OK. Enough questions. Go on and read some engaging blog posts.
Love that you share your students words. 🙂 What a great idea! We think the Consistent Blogger sounds like a great course.-The Dose Girls
thedoseofreality recently posted..Hold It Right There, Hombre!
There are some great posts in there. Thanks for the feedback on the classes.
Thank you so much for sharing our work! I got a lot out of the course and I’d do another one, for sure. I like the consistent blogger idea. That’s what I need help with!
That’s great to hear, Hannah. I tried to do the consistent blogger course locally, but it didn’t quite work out. I don’t think we have enough serious bloggers around here. I’m thinking about a way to do it structured like an e-course, through a series of emails, videos and writing assignments.
Thanks for setting up this opportunity Jennifer!
I would be interested in the The Nuts and Bolts of Maintaining a WordPress Blog (a possible local workshop). If you did something on-line, I would be able to participate.
Thanks for the feedback, Dawn. I get a lot of WordPress questions and I have a local web developer that I work with who does WP training. We were thinking of working together on something. We could also try something online.
Great idea! I like the Nuts and Bolts idea…online would be of interest to me. The Consistent Blogger idea is wonderful too!
Michelle recently posted..No More Snow, Please!
Thanks for the feedback, Michelle!
The consistent blogger idea would be an awesome one for me. Despite the fact I’ve been a writer for over 15 years, I still have not nailed down how to write consistently and on a regular basis. I think a lot of it, for me anyway, comes down to discipline but I’m always interested in learning whether there are other reasons besides a possible lack of interest (not the case for me).
Kim recently posted..I’m journaling, yo!
It took me a few years of blogging to really get into a consistent pattern. Consistency is a challenge for many bloggers and writers, I think. You hit on another interesting piece of the puzzle, the psychological aspect of writing. You’ve got me thinking about that a bit more. Thanks!
Thanks for the course. I’m working on catching up by watching the videos at 2x. I was out for the week, and now I’m trying to plan better so I can work more effectively.
1. My goal is to set aside 2-4 hours a week to work on blogging for my http://iPhoneDev.tv/blog web blog. I think a more structure calendar and consistent wakeup time will help.
2. How do you get into the zone to blog? Sometimes I’m daunted or overwhelmed with the amount of research or setup that I’ll need to do.
I’ve finally gotten myself to a point where blogging is not an after thought. It’s just part of what I do. I find I have a harder time keeping up with my ideas and typing than I do with the technical part of research and setting things up. What helped me a lot was blogging every day for 2 straight months in November and December of 2011. Once I accomplished this, I never looked back. Blogging just became easy.
Speaking of classes, I need to get back to your class and spend some time going through all the videos and content. I need to block off some time for this. I really want to dig in to it and complete the project!
I’ll try and give that a whirl. I’m not sure I can do every day, but at least some time thinking about topics and planning could help motivate me.
I’m working on revising my iPhone app class and reposting it in April. There will be new lecture videos and a better reading/study guide.
I really like the daily personal trainer emails I get for running. I’m thinking of making an app to do something similar for my online classes. Bascially it would send push-notifications that could help keep students on schedule. i.e. “Read Chapters 2-4 tonight”, etc.
Thanks, Jennifer, for the great class, and for sharing our work with others.
I would, without thinking twice, take another of your classes.
I’ll vote for the Consistent Blogger one here. I don’t completely understand the title of the second choice, but it sounds like something I would like to learn more about.
jakers19 recently posted..Inspiration Though Connection
That’s great to hear, Jake. I’m thinking I need to work on the consistent blogger one next. The second one fits with my philanthropy writing. I’m always talking about easy ways to incorporate giving into everyday life. I’ll have to think about the title. Thanks for the feedback.
anotherjennifer recently posted..Gearing Up for March Madness with Sweet Basketball-like Tricks (vlog)
This is awesome! So you teach a skillshare class? Is it a website? Ooh…I’m just thinking it would be fun to “virtually teach” about art and photography. 😀 Anyways, thanks for all the links to the blog posts. I see some that look great!
Cyndi recently posted..Bends in the Road | Picto Project Week 7
Skillshare might be a good platform for you, Cyndi. They really look for creative-focused classes that involve specific projects students can complete. I’d take one of your classes! Take a look at Skillshare.com. You have to apply to teach an online class, but if they like your idea, it’s a pretty easy process.
I want to take your blogging that builds community class when I have the time. I know that’s not answering your question exactly – but that one is exactly what I would love to work on.
I’m still thinking I’ll do it quarterly. So probably June. I’ll keep you updated!
Thanks for sharing our blogs and for the great class, Jennifer! You definitely offered helpful tips on blogging. The interaction with classmates was fun and encouraging too! Looking forward to your next class–the Consistent Blogger sounds appealing.
Zabe Bent recently posted..urban planning nerd. yup, that’s me.
That’s great to hear, Zabe. Thanks for the feedback.
Thank you for an awesome two weeks I truly enjoyed it especially office hours!
My pleasure, Michael!
FYI, I had trouble commenting on your blog. I had to sign in and was asked for a Google Authenticator code. Since I didn’t know what that was, I gave up!
I’m not quite sure what’s going on but I’ll provide you with a direct link to my blog post
Michael recently posted..Crush Your New Years Resolution And Get Things Done
I’d like one on starting over….like if you’re entering a new chapter of life and want to blog but don’t want to keep blogging about what you’re doing but not lose readers….
Blond Duck recently posted..Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
That sounds like a good one. Of course, I’m not sure I’d be one to teach it since I haven’t gone through it. It seems like you’d need to make that transition slowly.
I’d love to take another class with you, Jennifer! I’d be interested in the writing one, but also in the nuts and bolts of wordpress one, if it’s possible to do as an online class.
Joanna recently posted..Sunday Salon: My favorite Irish books
Thanks, Joanna. I’m looking into different platforms. Stay tuned!
anotherjennifer recently posted..Gearing Up for March Madness with Sweet Basketball-like Tricks (vlog)